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US 12,453,943 B2Granted
Compressed air foam mixing system
AssigneeZeco, Inc.
InventorKyle B. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressed air foam mixing system that has a mixing device connected to a discharge port of a tank. The mixing device receives fluid from the tank and pressurized air from the tank or alternatively directly from a source of pressurized air. The fluid and pressurized air are combined within the mixing device to form a foam.
Claims25
A compressed air foam mixing system, comprising:
- a source of pressurized air;
- a tank filled with fluid, the tank in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air such that the fluid comprises a pressurized air portion and a pressurized liquid portion, the tank having a discharge port;
- a mixing device connected to the discharge port, the mixing device having a hollow elongated body with a first end having a first end wall surrounding a first central opening, a second end having a second end wall surrounding a second central opening, a side wall extending between the first and second end walls, a partial inner wall extending from the first end wall towards the second end wall that terminates at an intermediate location between the first and second end walls defining an inner shoulder, a central bore extending from the first central opening of the first end wall to proximate the inner shoulder, a mixing chamber extending from the second central opening of the second end wall to proximate the inner shoulder, wherein a first diameter of the central bore is narrower than a second diameter of the mixing chamber, a plurality of bores extending from a plurality of outer apertures surrounding the first central opening at the first end wall through at least a portion of the side wall to a plurality of inner apertures located at the partial inner wall of the central bore, such that each of the plurality of outer apertures are in fluid communication with the central bore via a corresponding inner aperture and respective bore;
- an air manifold connected between the mixing device and the discharge port, the air manifold in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air;
- a pick-up tube having a threaded head operably connected to a threaded portion of the partial inner wall of the central bore, the pick-up tube having an elongated hose operably connected to a check valve;
- wherein the air manifold is sealed about the elongated tube;
- and
- an output assembly connected with the mixing chamber;
- wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a first input flow of pressurized air from the source of pressurized air that is provided to the air manifold and then entering into the plurality of bores and a second input flow of the pressurized liquid portion from the tank that is provided to the pick-up tube and then entering into the central bore, such that the mixing chamber is configured to mix the first input flow of pressurized air and the second flow of the pressurized liquid portion to form a foam;
- wherein the output assembly is configured to discharge a flow of foam from the mixing chamber;
- and
- wherein the first end wall is in a perpendicular configuration to each of the first input flow of pressurized air entering into the plurality of bores and the second input flow of the pressurized liquid portion entering into the central bore.
9 more elements
A compressed air foam mixing system, comprising:
- a source of pressurized air;
- a tank containing a fluid comprising an air portion and a liquid portion and having an air input and a discharge port, the tank configured to be in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air via the air input to pressurize the fluid within the tank to provide a pressurized air portion and a pressurized liquid portion;
- a mixing device connected to the discharge port of the tank, the mixing device comprising a hollow elongated body having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having a first end wall surrounding a first central opening, the second end having a second end wall surrounding a second central opening, an outer side wall extending between the first and second end walls, a partial inner wall extending from the first end wall towards the second end wall and terminating at an intermediate location between the first and second end walls defining an inner shoulder, a central bore extending from the first central opening of the first end wall to proximate the inner shoulder, a mixing chamber extending from the second central opening of the second end wall to proximate the inner shoulder, and a plurality of bores extending through a least a portion of the outer side wall from a plurality of outer apertures surrounding the first central opening to a plurality of inner apertures located proximate the partial inner wall of the central bore, such that each of the plurality of outer apertures are in fluid communication with the central bore via a corresponding inner aperture and respective bore, wherein the central bore having a first diameter that is narrower than a second diameter of the mixing chamber;
- and
- a pick-up tube operably connected to the central bore proximate the first end of the mixing device;
- wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive and mix a first input flow of pressurized air entering from the plurality of bores and a second input flow of the pressurized liquid portion entering from the central bore via the pick-up tube to form a foam;
- and
- wherein the first end wall is in a perpendicular configuration to each of the first input flow of pressurized air entering into the plurality of bores and the second input flow of the pressurized liquid portion entering into the central bore.
5 more elements
A compressed air foam mixing system, comprising:
- a tank having an air port and a discharge port in fluid communication with a source of pressurized air;
- and
- a mixing device connected to the discharge port of the tank, the mixing device having a hollow body extending from a first end having a first end wall to a second end having a second end wall, the first end wall surrounding a first central opening and the second end wall surrounding a second central opening;
- a central bore having an inner wall that extends from the first end to an inner shoulder, whereby the shoulder angling outwardly from the central bore and upwardly towards the second end;
- the central bore extending through the mixing device from the first end to the inner shoulder defining a mixing chamber extending from the inner shoulder to the second end, such that the inner shoulder defines an internal transition within the mixing device from the central bore to the mixing chamber with a first diameter of the central bore being narrower than a second diameter of the mixing chamber;
- the first end of the mixing device received in the discharge port of the tank;
- a pickup tube having a head portion connected to the first end of the mixing device;
- the pickup tube having a conduit portion extending from the head portion into a bottom portion of the tank;
- and a plurality of bores in fluid communication with the source of pressurized air, the plurality of bores extending at an angle inwardly and upwardly from the first end wall surrounding the first central opening to a location within the central bore located between the inner shoulder and the first end wall;
- wherein the mixing chamber is configured to receive a first input flow of pressurized air from the plurality of bores and a second input flow of a pressurized liquid from the central bore via the pickup tube;
- wherein the mixing chamber is configured to mix the first input flow of pressurized air and the second input flow of pressurized liquid to form a foam;
- and
- wherein the first end wall is in a perpendicular configuration to each of the first input flow of pressurized air entering into the plurality of bores and the second input flow of pressurized liquid entering into the central bore.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.